[July 08, 2011] I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream Tweet Jul 08, 2011 (Kerrville Daily Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Children line the streets and wave their money as Roberto Bernal plays well-known chiming music on a loud speaker from his brightly decorated ice cream van, promising cold treats to relieve the summer's brutal heat. "Some people say I get there at the right time," Bernal said, laughing as he brought the van to a stop. "Like they are waiting for something cool." Bernal left his day job in maintenance in May to drive an ice cream van in Kerrville. He bought the van for about $2,000, tore the seats out, bought a freezer and some ice cream and was up and running in 24 hours. He said despite the economy and gas prices, the ice cream business is good, and he doesn't feel a hardship. "Normally, I have to (work) one hour to get $8.75," he said about 15 minutes into his Wednesday afternoon route. "And already I've made it." At his next stop, a woman approached Bernal's van and ordered a Big Dipper -- a waffle cone ice cream dipped in chocolate and covered with nuts. As soon as she walked away, it was like bees to a hive. The children came running. "I want the cookie one," one of the children said. Bernal smiled and worked his way back to his freezers to carefully grab ice cream and lay it out on a small counter just outside his window. One by one he gave children and adults the ice cream they asked for -- the Dora one, the red one, the chocolate one and an ice cream sandwich. "I see the smiles of the kids," he said of why he loves his job. It's been just two months and already Bernal has regular customers. Veronica Medina, 13, said she buys an ice cream every time the van rolls through her neighborhood. She said her favorite is the Big Dipper. "I'd go crazy," she said of what life would be like without Beto's Ice Cream. And for Bernal, the ice cream business is more than a livelihood. It's 100 percent a family business. "I always wanted to do something where I could see my wife and son work together, and this is it," he said. Bernal's son and wife frequently ride along in the ice cream van and help out when needed. His 23-year-old son is handicapped and enjoys riding along with him, he said, adding that it means a lot when he comes along. Bernal also gives every handicapped child who comes to the van a free ice cream -- just because. Despite a relatively short time in the new job, Bernal has developed a regular route and customers he cares about, making leaving his former job an easy transition. "They're putting a plate on my table," he said affectionately of his customers, adding that he tries to do something nice for them when possible. He said he plans to bring ice cream to Kerrville neighborhoods all year long. He usually runs Mondays through Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. Currently, his route includes mostly the South East Kerrville area near Singing Wind Park. As he handed out his last ice cream Wednesday evening and sat back down, he talked about all the reasons he loves his job, all the while kids chased each other through a yard, ice cream in hand and smiles on their faces. To see more of the Kerrville Daily Times or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dailytimes.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, Kerrville Daily Times, Texas Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]